VICTORIA & ABDUL

Based on a book by Shrabani Basu, who was researching the history of curry and discovered that Queen Victoria enjoyed curries.

On a visit to Osborne House, Victoria’s Isle of Wight residence, Basu noticed portraits and a bronze bust of a regal-looking Indian man. Curiosity led to an amazing journey of discovery of this historical Indian man named Abdul Karim. Karim arrived from India to participate in Queen Victoria's golden jubilee, but surprisingly the two would form a close friendship that was frowned upon by those in the Queen’s household – including her own family. After the Queen’s death, all correspondence between the Queen and Abdul were destroyed except for journals that were handwritten by the monarch in Urdu. They remained untouched by Western historians because nobody knew how to read them. From these journals were revealed the fascinating story of the relationship between Queen Victoria and Abdul Karim.

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

“Judi Dench’s Oscar-worthy second turn as Queen Victoria is a poignant portrait of fading power and human connection.”